Figure 4.4 Reaching the NNI vision In FY 2001, NNI identified nine areas of grand challenges (National Science and Technology Council 2000). Nanobiotechnology and nanobiomedical research has progressively increas ed in importance (National Institutes of Health 2000). In 2002 three new grand challenges were added, related to manufacturing at the nanoscale, instrumentation, and chemico-biological-radioactive-explosive detection and protection. The second strategic planning of NNI has been completed in December 2004 (NSET, 2004) based to the new knowledge and technological foundation developed in the first four years of NNI (Roco 2004). The long-term vision has been established first, and then we have determined the requirements for shorter-term goals and priority themes (Figure 4.4). Nanoscale manufacturing R&D is an example of a long-term objective of developing systematic methods for economic synthesis and fabrication of three- dimensional nanostructures, establishing nanoscale manufacturing capabilities, and establishing the markets for nanotechnology producers and users. Another impor- tant challenge is establish ing standardized and reproducible microfabricated approaches to nanocharacterization, nanomanipulation, and nanodevices. The centers and networks of excellence encourage long-term, system-oriented projects, research networking, and shared academic user facilities. These nano- technology research centers will play an important role in the development and utilization of specific tools, and in promoting partnerships in the coming years (Tables 4.3 and 4.4). NSF will run two user networks – the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network and the Network for Computational Nanotechnology – and twelve nanoscale science and engineering centers and continue support for thirteen materials research science and engineering centers with research at the nanoscale. DOE has established five large-scale user facilities – the Nanoscale Science Research Centers – NASA four nano-bio-info research centers, DOD three centers, and NIH several visualization and instrumentation centers. In planning for the future, NNI has been prepared with the same rigor as a scientific project, including a long-term vision developed in 1999 (Roco et al. 2000; National Science and Technology Council 1999, 2000; http://nano.gov). The National Research Cou ncil (NRC) reviewed NNI in 2002 (National Research Council 2002), and made a series of recommendations such as increasing R&D investment on nanobiosystems and societal implications. Two bills for nanotechnology submitted in 2003 in the US Congress addressed the need for coherent, multi-year planning with increased interdisciplinarity and interagency coordination. Senate bill S189, 21st Century Nanotechnology R&D Act, in the 108th Congress recommends a five-year National Nanotechnology Program. It was introduced by a group of senators led by Ron Wyden (Democrat, Oregon) and George Allen (Republican, Virginia). The draft bill in the House was HR 766, Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003; it was intro- duced by a group of representatives led by Sherwood Boehlert (Republican, New York) and Michael Honda (Democrat, California). The two bills were approved by President Bush in December 2003 along with Public Law 108-153. Societal goals The US National Nanotechnology Initiative 87 and R&D were discussed at each of the previous Congressional nanotechnology hearings, including one on 19 March 2003, and a special hearing on this topic was held on 9 April 2003 by the House Committee on Science. The hearing suggested the need to increase funding in this area and to involve social scientists from the beginning in large NNI projects. Table 4.3 NNI centers and networks of excellence Institution Year initiated NSF Nanoscale Systems in Information Technologies, NSEC (Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center) Cornell University 2001 Nanoscience in Biological and Environmental Engineering, NSEC Rice University 2001 Integrated Nanopatterning and Detection, NSEC Northwestern University 2001 Electronic Transport in Molecular Nanostructures, NSEC Columbia University 2001 Nanoscale Systems and Their Device Applications, NSEC Harvard University 2001 Directed Assembly of Nanostructures, NSEC Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 2001 Nanobiotechnology, Science and Technology Center Cornell University 2000 Integrated and Scalable Nanomanufacturing, NSEC UC Los Angeles 2003 Nanoscale Chemical, Electrical, and Mechanical Manufacturing Systems, NSEC UIUC 2003 Integrated Nanomechanical Systems, NSEC UC Berkeley 2004 High Rate Nanomanufacturing, NSEC Northeastern University 2004 Affordable Nanoengineering of Polymer Biomedical Devices, NSEC Ohio State University 2004 Nano-bio Interface, NSEC University of Pennsylvania 2004 Probing the Nanoscale, NSEC Stanford University 2004 Templated Synthesis and Assembly at the Nanoscale, NSEC University of Wisconsin, Madison 2004 DOD Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies MIT 2002 Center for Nanoscience Innovation for Defense UC Santa Barbara 2002 Nanoscience Institute Naval Research Laboratory 2002 NASA Institute for Cell Mimetic Space Exploration UCLA 2002 Institute for Intelligent Bio-Nanomaterials and Structures for Aerospace Vehicles Texas A&M 2002 Bio-Inspection, Design and Processing of Multi-functional Nanocomposites Princeton 2002 Institute for Nanoelectronics and Computing Purdue 2002 88 Nanotechnology 4.3.3 Policy of Inclusion and Partnerships, Including Promoting Interagency Collaboration This strategy applies to various disciplines, areas of relevance, research providers and users, technology and societal aspects, and international integration. The vision of a ‘grand coalition’ of collaborating universities, industry, government labora- tories, government agencies, and professional science and engineering communities was proposed in 1999 (Roco et al. 2000: V–VIII) and has been implemented through NNI. The added value by synergy in science and technology resulting from partnerships is one of the main reason of establishing NNI. A starting point was the collaborations and monthly working meetings of currently 21 federal agencies covering almost all relevant areas of nanotechnology (Figure 4.5). Coordination between agencies is a key task of the NSTC’s Subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET). It coordinates planning and budgets of the participating agencies, identifies promising research directions, encourages collaborative investments, avoids duplication of effort, and ensures development of a balanced infrastructure. The National Nanotechnology Coordi- nating Office (NNCO) serves as secretariat to NSET providing technical and administrative support to implement the interagency activities and prepare planning and assessment documents. For example, NSET has coordinated the establishment of new centers and facilities with complementary functions that are being devel- oped by the different agencies. In addition to industry, an increased role of states and universities in funding nanotechnology has been evident in the US since 2002. Examples are the states of New York (the Albany Nanotechnology Center), California (the California Nan o- systems Institute with additional matching from industry at a ratio of 2:1), Illinois (the Institute for Nanotechnology, with joint funding from Northwestern University, Table 4.4 NNI R&D user facilities Institution Year initiated NSF National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN): a network of 13 academic facilities Main node at Cornell University 2004 Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN): a network of 7 academic facilities Main node at Purdue University 2004 DOE Center for Functional Nanomaterials Brookhaven National Laboratory Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies SNL and LANL Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences Oak Ridge National Laboratory Center for Nanoscale Materials Argonne National Laboratory Molecular Foundry Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory The US National Nanotechnology Initiative 89 and the Center for Nanofabrication and Molecular Self-assembly, with other funding agencies), Pennsylvania (the Franklin Institute for developing partnerships in nanotechnology) , Georgia (a new center) and Indiana (contributions to the nanotechnology investment at Purdue University). It is estimated that US industry made about the same level of investment in nanoscale science and engineering research as the federal government in 2003, but it is generally directed to ‘vertical’ transformations of a fundamental discovery into a product, whereas the federal investment is generally directed to ‘horizontal’ basic discoveries of relevance to multiple disciplines and areas of relevance. International collaborations are part of the overall partnershi ps and they are increasing in importance. 4.3.4 Preparation of a Diverse Nanotechnology Workforce A major challenge is to educate and train a new generation of workers skilled in the multidisciplinary perspectives necessary for rapid progress in nanotechnology. The concepts at the nanoscale (atomic, molecular, and supra molecular levels) should penetrate the education system in the next decade in the same way that microscopic Figure 4.5 NNI embraces 21 federal departments and independent agencies covering various societal needs 90 Nanotechnology approaches made inroads in the past fifty years. NSF has a plan for systemic and earlier nanoscale science and engineering education. The R&D workforce is managed using merit review and individual incentives. It is estimated that about 2 million nanotechnology workers will be needed worldwide in 10–15 years. One way to ensure a pipeline of new students into the field is to promote interaction with the public at large. Since 2002 several US universities have reported increased numbers of highly qualified students moving into physical and engineering sciences because of the NNI. Timely education and training will begin moving concepts from the microscopic world to the molecular and supramolecular levels. Changes in teaching from kindergarten to gradu ate school, as well as continuing education activities for retraining, are envisioned. An important corollary activity is the retraining of teachers themselves. One may consider changes in how we structure information on nanotechnology (Yamaguchi and Komiyama 2001) in order to improve learning and disseminate the results. Five-year goals for NNI include ensuring that 50% of research institutions’ faculty and student s have access to the full range of nanoscale research facilities, and enabling access to nanoscience and engineering education for students in at least 25% of research universities. Here are three illustrations:  NSF’s Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education program has made about 70 awards in FY 2003 and FY 2004. Nanotechnology grade 7–12 education has been funded through a national center at the Northwestern University and an increased focus on public education is planned in 2005.  In 2004 a coherent plan has been developed to integrate high-school, technolo- gical, undergraduate, and graduate education into a collaborative environment.  The software NanoKids (Tour 2003) has been developed for interactive learning using video animation on easily accessible computers (Figure 4.6). Figure 4.6 NanoKids: interactive teaching software for high school. Reproduced with permission from Tour (2003) The US National Nanotechnology Initiative 91 4.3.5 Address Broad Societal Goals The first report on societal implications of nanoscience and nanotechnology (Roco and Bainbridge 2001) was prepared at the onset of NNI in September 2000, and its recommendations were reflected in the NSF program announcements and the opera- tion of NNCO. Nanoscale science and engineering will lead to better understanding of nature, economic prosperity, and improved health, sustainability, and peace. This strategy has strong roots and may bring people and countries together. An integral aspect of NNI’s broader goals is increasing productivity by applying innovative nanotechnology for commerce (manufacturing, computing and communications, power systems, energy). Taking this road towards broader goals may bring large benefits in the long term. Aiming at broad societal goals was one of the initial stra- tegies of NNI (Roco 2003), and it has expanded to converging technologies from the nanoscale for improving human performance (Roco and Bainbridge 2003). Since October 2000 the annual NSF program announcement has included a focus on ethical, legal, and societal implications and on workforce education and training. Research on societal and educational implications will increase in importance as novel nanostructures are discovered, new nanotechnology products and services reach the market, and interdisciplinary research groups are established to study them. The NNI annual investment in research with societal and educational implications in 2004 is estimated at about $45 million (of which NSF awards about $40 million), and in nanoscale research with relevance to environment and health and safety at about $90 million (of which NSF awards about $40 million, NIH about $33 million and EPA about $6 million). The total of about $90 million is approximately 10% of the NNI budget in FY 2004. One example of a supported project is cleaning contaminated soil using iron nanoparticles that are partially coated with other metals (Figure 4.7). This proje ct received joint support from NSF and the Environmental Protecti on A gency (EPA). Societal implications include the envisioned benefits from nanotechnology as well as second-order consequences, such as potential risks, disruptive technologies, and ethical aspects. Long-term developments of the field depend on the way one addresses the ‘societal challenges’ of nanotechnology (Lane 2001). NSET is actively seeking input from research groups, social and economical experts, professional societies, and industry on this issue. 4.4 Closing Remarks I would like to close this brief overview of NNI with several comments about international collaboration in the future. Nanoscale science and engineering R&D is mostly in a precompetitive phase. International collaboration in fundamental research, long-te rm technical challenges, metrology, education, and studies on societal implications will play an important role in the affirmation and growth of the field. The US NNI develops in this context. The vision-setting and collaborative model of NNI has received international acceptance. 92 Nanotechnology Opportunities for collaboration towards an international nanotechnology effort, particularly in the precompetitive areas, will augment the national programs. One may note that large companies rely heavily on R&D results from external sources (about 80% in 2001), of which a large proportion is from other countries (Europe 35%, Japan 33%, US 12%, according to E. Roberts, MIT, at the Sloan School of Management). An increased number of companies are acting globally with a significant flow of ideas, capital, and people. This trend will accelerate and will be the environment in which nanotechnology will develop. Priority goals may be envisioned for international collaboration in nanoscale research and education: better comprehension of nature, increased productivity, sustainable development, and development of humanity and civilization. Examples include understanding single molecules and the operation of single cells, improving health and human performance, enhancing simulation and measuring methods, creating assembly and fabrication tools for the building blocks of matter, and developing highly efficient solar energy conversion and water desalinization for sustainable development. Acknowledgements Opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of NSET or NSF. This chapter is based on a presentation made at the Figure 4.7 Cleaning the environment with iron nanoparticles. Reproduced with permission from Zhang (2003) The US National Nanotechnology Initiative 93 National Nanotechnology Initiative Conference, Infocast, Washington, DC, on 3 April 2003; several items were updated before publication. References 1. Lane, N. Grand challenges of nanotechnology. Journal of Nanoparticle Research 3(2/3), (2001) 1–8. 2. National Institutes of Health. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: Shaping Biomedical Research (2000) NIH, Washington, DC (http://nano.gov or http://grants.nih.gov/grants/becon/becon_funding.htm) 3. National Research Council. Small Wonders – Endless Frontiers: A Review of the National Nano- technology Initiative (2002) National Academies Press, Washington, DC. 4. National Science and Technology Council. Nanotechnology – Shaping the World Atom by Atom (1999) Brochure for the public, NSTC, Washington, DC (http://nano.gov). 5. National Science and Technology Council. National Nanotechnology Initiative: The Initiative and Its Implementation Plan (2000) NSTC, Washington, DC (http://nano.gov). 6. National Science and Technology Council, National Nanotechnology Initiative Strategic Plan, Dec. 2004, Washington, D.C. (http://nano.gov) 7. Roco, M. C. Broad societal issues of nanotechnology. Journal of Nanoparticle Research 5(3/4), (2003) 181–189. 8. Roco, M. C. The U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative after 3 years (2001–2003). Journal of Nanoparticle Research 6(1), (2004) 1–10. 9. Roco, M. C. and Bainbridge, W. (eds). Societal Implications of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (2001) NSF and Kluwer, Boston MA. 10. Roco, M. C. and Bainbridge, W. (eds). Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance (2003) Kluwer, Boston MA. First published in June 2002 as an NSF-DOC report. 11. Roco, M. C., Williams, R. S. and Alivisatos, P. (eds). Nanotechnology Research Directions (2000) Kluwer, Boston MA. First published in 1999 as an NSTC report. 12. Siegel, R. W., Hu, E. and Roco, M. C. (eds). Nanostructure Science and Technology (1999) NSTC and Kluwer, Boston MA. 13. Tour, J. NanoKids. Seminar presented at National Science Foundation, (2003) NSF award 0236281, Arlington VA. 14. Yamaguchi, Y. and Komiyama, H. Structuring knowledge project in nanotechnology materials program launched in Japan. Journal of Nanoparticle Research 3(2/3), (2001) 1–5. 15. Zhang, W. Nanoscale iron particles for environmental remediation: an overview. Journal of Nano- particle Research 5(3/4), (2003) 323–332. 94 Nanotechnology Part Two Investing in Nanotechnology [...]... scale, a size scale of importance to all manufacturing and processing industries (pharmaceutical, Nanotechnology: Global Strategies, Industry Trends and Applications Edited by J Schulte # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd ISBN: 0-470-85400 -6 (HB) 98 Nanotechnology electronics, biotechnology, cosmetics, polymers, metal, textile, power, etc.) At this stage, nanotechnology is still at the very beginning of establishing... Growth through Nanotechnology Opportunities and Risks 103 nanotechnology concept to an application in generic markets, nanotechnology is feeding growth in many existing nanotechnology- specific industries as well as new ones While all these industries contribute to the spread of nanotechnology and to economic growth, it can be expected that real exponential growth may occur only after the nanotechnology- enabled... estimate, but with sufficient amounts of nanotechnology raw materials becoming available, and with product processing and manufacturing in place, standardization of nanotechnology- enabled building units will bring us to a stage where the ‘nano-RJ45’ is taken for granted and nanotechnology will have penetrated every step of our lives While the entry costs to get into nanotechnology at either the development... Growth through Nanotechnology Opportunities and Risks 101 Nanotechnology Environmental Electronics Biotech Chemistry Medical Materials Energy Fundamental development Derived products Figure 5.1 Cross-fertilization may bring a wave of new and very fundamental developments, causing more industries to adopt ready-to-use nanotechnology components and tools Real economic growth through nanotechnology can... distances and other pretransistor applications of this technology That is not to say that nanotechnology today is short of producing technologies that have a use beyond research laboratories There are already many products for general use on the market that have been nanotechnology enhanced, as illustrated in this book The fundamental differences between the electronics industry and the emerging nanotechnology. .. of technology maturity and their accompanying patent Nanotechnology 104 Table 5.2 The three phases in an ideal cycle of a nanotechnology concept to the full exploitation of its capacity and value First wave Second wave Third wave Moving from how to make to how to use Discovery of new capability and materials Refinement of new capability and materials Replacement of old capability and materials in old... the personal computer industry until it was later called the IT revolution At this stage, we are looking at a rapid spread of interest in nanotechnology throughout a vast landscape of industries Figure 5.1 illustrates the current landscape of nanotechnology industries that are actively involved in developing nanotechnology There is more space for other industries to simply adopt nanotechnology developments... nanodevices Nanotechnology Enabling nanotechnology through nanoscale toolboxes Replacing microstructures Replacing microtechnology processing Replacing early nanodevices 100 Nanotechnology times stronger that any previous engineered fibre or cable While nanotubes find their application in the fibre industry, they are now emerging in the electronic display industry as well as in the high-density power battery industry. .. techniques and manufacturing processing may need to be adjusted to also cater for production of nano enhanced production Here selfassembly is probably the most prominent manufacturing and processing technology Growth through Nanotechnology Opportunities and Risks 99 due the relatively low costs and ease at which it can be scaled up for mass production In fact, with a minimum of investment and a small... for a product enhancement or an entirely new nanotechnology- based consumer product line, Hewlett-Packard is developing a strategic patent portfolio that aims at future nanotechnology- enabling nanotechnology i.e technology that makes it possible to make use of nanotechnology or to build new nanotechnology i.e., the kind of technology that is as fundamental and necessary to the functioning of, say, electronic . industries (pharmaceutical, Nanotechnology: Global Strategies, Industry Trends and Applications Edited by J. Schulte # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd ISBN: 0-470-85400 -6 (HB) electronics, biotechnology,. of Nanoparticle Research 6( 1), (2004) 1–10. 9. Roco, M. C. and Bainbridge, W. (eds). Societal Implications of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (2001) NSF and Kluwer, Boston MA. 10. Roco, M. C. and Bainbridge,. science and engineering will lead to better understanding of nature, economic prosperity, and improved health, sustainability, and peace. This strategy has strong roots and may bring people and countries